Curious Meerkat Advent Calendar 2016

Share this post

It has become something of an annual tradition that I produce an advent calendar each year with facts, interesting links and videos. Consider it a little festive treat for your brain :) Here is your 2016 advent calendar – check out the doors that are already open, and come back each day for a new treat!


advent_cut

1

Fact:

Coconut Crab

The coconut crab has the strongest pinch of any animal, except an alligator

2

Video:

Stalk-eyed flies

Stalk-eyed fly males fight!

3

Link:

Sea Level Map

Check out this fascinating map showing the effects of global sea level rise.

4

Fact:

Hoverfly

Hoverflies might look like bees, but they don’t have a sting and are totally harmless.

5

Video:

Brazil's Blind Bird Man

The incredible story of Brazil’s Blind Birdman

6

Link:

Climbing Mount Improbable Game

Try this interactive biomorphs game to play with evolution!

7

Video:

The Knowledge TED Talk

Fascinating talk by Lewis Dartnell – “How to Rebuild the World from Scratch”

8

Fact:

Sea Lion

Sea Lions can still get sea sick if they sit on a floating object in rough seas!

9

Video:

Bernie Krause listens to the sounds of nature

Bernie Krause talks about his amazing life recording the sounds of nature

10

Fact:

Sea Otter

Sea otters use stones to open clams and mussels, and will keep hold of their preferred…

11

Link:

David Attenborough

BBC Earth – Five of Attenborough’s Greatest Moments

12

Video:

Stuart Chapman

Dam Right – Stuart Chapman talks about designing hydropower to minimise eco…

13

Link:

Theories of Everything

A map of theories in fundamental physics.

14

Video:

Asteroid mining

The Market Problem – How asteroid mining makes space economically viable.

15

Fact:

Andean Condor

Andean condors use their 8 – 10ft wingspan to soar through the air on thermals, almost…

16

Fact:

Llama Family Tree

Llamas, Alpacas and Camels are all part of a family of ungulates. Each wild form ha…

17

Video:

Changing the nature of nature

Changing the nature of nature.

18

Link:

Mark my bird

Mark my bird – a citizen science project.

19

Fact:

Honeyeater

The honey finder bird has a unique mutualistic relationship with local people. It respond…

20

Video:

Jupiters Magnetic Field

From the Juno mission – Exploring Jupiters Magnetic Field.

21

Link:

Zooniverse

Zooniverse Citizen Science Projects.

22

Fact:

Death Valley

Earlier this year El Nino triggered a super bloom in one of the hottest places on Eart…

23

Video:

Fire Ants

See the amazing cooperative behaviour of ants in this cool video.

24

Best of 2016

Best of 2016

My favourite stories from 2016.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.